Cooper Tire & Rubber Company
Encyclopedia
Cooper Tire & Rubber Company is a United States
based company that specializes in the design
, manufacture, marketing
and sales
of replacementautomobile
s and truck
tires, and subsidiaries that specialize in medium truck, motorcycle
and racing tires. With headquarters in Findlay, Ohio
, Cooper Tire has 60 manufacturing, sales, distribution, technical and design facilities within its family of companies located around the world.
Cooper also owns the UK
Avon Tyres brand, which also produces tires for motorcycle
s, road car
s, and for motor racing.
Its slogan is "The tire with two names....the company and the man who built it."
In 1941, the first year the Cooper oval trademark with the Cooper Knight head gear was registered and used. In those early years of the brand's identification, the logo also included a banner proclaiming the tires' "armored-cord" construction. The company's red, white, and blue logo would become one of the most easily recognized emblems in the tire industry.
During World War II the company manufactured pontoons, landing boats, waterproof bags and camouflage items, inflatable barges, life jackets and tank decoys, and, of course, tires, to benefit the Allied effort. The company's contribution to the war effort was acknowledged in 1945 by the armed forces in a special ceremony bestowing the Army-Navy ‘E’ Award
(for excellence). Soon after the war the company name was officially changed to Cooper Tire & Rubber Company, in recognition of Cooper's contribution to Master Tire & Rubber
Cooper Tire began a 51% owned joined venture with Shandong Chengshan Tire Co in 2006 to produce truck and passenger car tires for mainland Chinese and export markets. Two of the businesses of the joint venture are Cooper Chengshan Passenger Tire and Cooper Chengshan Tire. In 2007, Cooper Tire set up a manufacturing venture in eastern China with Kenda Rubber Industrial Company
, a company based in the Republic of China on Taiwan. Cooper Tire generates 25% of its global sales in the People's Republic of China. That year, Cooper sold its Oliver Rubber Company subsidiary, a company that produced tread rubber and retreading equipment to Michelin for $69 million.
Cooper Tires is the second largest United States based tire company, after Goodyear.
of Melksham
, Wiltshire
, in the United Kingdom
was sold to Cooper Tire. This left Avon able to concentrate on its core businesses of automotive components, technical products, and protective equipment. The Cooper Tire site remains a major employer in central Melksham.
, dubbed the World Cup of Motorsports, for the series' initial 2005-2006
season. Cooper was under contract to produce slick tires and treaded rain tires for the series championship until 2008
. Cooper Tire became the official tire of the Champ Car Atlantic Championship
in 2007
. Cooper Tire became the official tire of USF2000 National Championship and the IMSA Prototype Lites
series (formerly IMSA Lites) in 2010. On April 17, 2010 Cooper/Avon Tyres presented a written proposal to Formula One Team Association (FOTA) to be the official tire supplier for the 2011 Formula One season.
by supplying tires to several drifters in both the Need for Speed Formula D
Drift series and Canadian Drift series.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
based company that specializes in the design
Design
Design as a noun informally refers to a plan or convention for the construction of an object or a system while “to design” refers to making this plan...
, manufacture, marketing
Marketing
Marketing is the process used to determine what products or services may be of interest to customers, and the strategy to use in sales, communications and business development. It generates the strategy that underlies sales techniques, business communication, and business developments...
and sales
Sales
A sale is the act of selling a product or service in return for money or other compensation. It is an act of completion of a commercial activity....
of replacementautomobile
Automobile
An automobile, autocar, motor car or car is a wheeled motor vehicle used for transporting passengers, which also carries its own engine or motor...
s and truck
Truck
A truck or lorry is a motor vehicle designed to transport cargo. Trucks vary greatly in size, power, and configuration, with the smallest being mechanically similar to an automobile...
tires, and subsidiaries that specialize in medium truck, motorcycle
Motorcycle
A motorcycle is a single-track, two-wheeled motor vehicle. Motorcycles vary considerably depending on the task for which they are designed, such as long distance travel, navigating congested urban traffic, cruising, sport and racing, or off-road conditions.Motorcycles are one of the most...
and racing tires. With headquarters in Findlay, Ohio
Findlay, Ohio
As of the census of 2000, there were 38,967 people, 15,905 households, and 10,004 families residing in the city. The population density was 2,266.3 people per square mile . There were 17,152 housing units at an average density of 997.6 per square mile...
, Cooper Tire has 60 manufacturing, sales, distribution, technical and design facilities within its family of companies located around the world.
Cooper also owns the UK
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
Avon Tyres brand, which also produces tires for motorcycle
Motorcycle
A motorcycle is a single-track, two-wheeled motor vehicle. Motorcycles vary considerably depending on the task for which they are designed, such as long distance travel, navigating congested urban traffic, cruising, sport and racing, or off-road conditions.Motorcycles are one of the most...
s, road car
Čar
Čar is a village in the municipality of Bujanovac, Serbia. According to the 2002 census, the town has a population of 296 people.-References:...
s, and for motor racing.
Its slogan is "The tire with two names....the company and the man who built it."
History
The earliest corporate lineage for Cooper Tire was the M and M Company, which was formed by two brothers-in-law in Akron, Ohio in 1914, a company that made tire repair materials. That company later acquired the Giant Tire and Rubber Company and moved to Findlay, Ohio at a site at the intersection of Lima and Western Avenue still occupied by Cooper Tire and adjacent to The Cooper Corporation facilities. The Cooper name originates from 1919 with the establishment of The Cooper Corporation in 1919 located in Findlay, Ohio when Cincinnati auto parts dealer I.J. Cooper formed the company to manufacture new tires. The Cooper Corporation, the M and M Company, and The Falls Rubber company merged in 1930 to form the Master Tire and Rubber Company. The company name was changed to Cooper Tire and Rubber Company in 1946.In 1941, the first year the Cooper oval trademark with the Cooper Knight head gear was registered and used. In those early years of the brand's identification, the logo also included a banner proclaiming the tires' "armored-cord" construction. The company's red, white, and blue logo would become one of the most easily recognized emblems in the tire industry.
During World War II the company manufactured pontoons, landing boats, waterproof bags and camouflage items, inflatable barges, life jackets and tank decoys, and, of course, tires, to benefit the Allied effort. The company's contribution to the war effort was acknowledged in 1945 by the armed forces in a special ceremony bestowing the Army-Navy ‘E’ Award
Army-Navy ‘E’ Award
The Army-Navy "E" Award was an honor presented to a company during World War II for excellence in production of war equipment. The award was also known as the Army-Navy Production Award. The award would consist of a pennant for the plant and emblems for all employees in the plant at the time the...
(for excellence). Soon after the war the company name was officially changed to Cooper Tire & Rubber Company, in recognition of Cooper's contribution to Master Tire & Rubber
Cooper Tire began a 51% owned joined venture with Shandong Chengshan Tire Co in 2006 to produce truck and passenger car tires for mainland Chinese and export markets. Two of the businesses of the joint venture are Cooper Chengshan Passenger Tire and Cooper Chengshan Tire. In 2007, Cooper Tire set up a manufacturing venture in eastern China with Kenda Rubber Industrial Company
Kenda Rubber Industrial Company
Kenda Rubber Industrial Company is a manufacturer of pneumatic tires in Taiwan since 1962 with manufacturing facilities in Taiwan, China, and Vietnam. They make tires for bicycles, motorcycles, ATVs, trailers, automobiles, and industrial equipment....
, a company based in the Republic of China on Taiwan. Cooper Tire generates 25% of its global sales in the People's Republic of China. That year, Cooper sold its Oliver Rubber Company subsidiary, a company that produced tread rubber and retreading equipment to Michelin for $69 million.
Cooper Tires is the second largest United States based tire company, after Goodyear.
Cooper Tires
Cooper Tires produces Cooper branded tires for passenger cars, light trucks, sport utility vehicles and commercial trucks.Avon Rubber PLC
In 1997, the tire business of Avon Rubber PLCAvon Rubber
Avon Rubber p.l.c. is a manufacturer of high technology rubber-based products for a number of manufacturing sectors. It is a constituent of the FTSE SmallCap Index...
of Melksham
Melksham
Melksham is a medium-sized English town, lying on the River Avon. It lies in the county of Wiltshire.It is situated southeast of the city of Bath, south of Chippenham, west of Devizes and north of Warminster on the A350 national route. The 2001 UK census cited Melksham as having 20,000...
, Wiltshire
Wiltshire
Wiltshire is a ceremonial county in South West England. It is landlocked and borders the counties of Dorset, Somerset, Hampshire, Gloucestershire, Oxfordshire and Berkshire. It contains the unitary authority of Swindon and covers...
, in the United Kingdom
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
was sold to Cooper Tire. This left Avon able to concentrate on its core businesses of automotive components, technical products, and protective equipment. The Cooper Tire site remains a major employer in central Melksham.
Other brands
In addition to Avon, Cooper Tire manufactures tires under the associated brand names Dean, Mastercraft and Starfire.Motorsports and sponsorships
Cooper Tire became the official tire of the A1 Grand PrixA1 Grand Prix
A1 Grand Prix was a 'single make' open-wheel auto racing series. It was unique in its field in that competitors solely represented their nation as opposed to themselves or a team, the usual format in most formula racing series. As such, it was often promoted as the "World Cup of Motorsport"...
, dubbed the World Cup of Motorsports, for the series' initial 2005-2006
2005-06 A1 Grand Prix season
The 2005–06 A1 Grand Prix season was the inaugural season for the A1 Grand Prix series.It began on 25 September 2005, and finished on 2 April 2006 after eleven races.This first season was won by A1 Team France on March 12, 2006.-Teams:...
season. Cooper was under contract to produce slick tires and treaded rain tires for the series championship until 2008
2007-08 A1 Grand Prix season
The 2007-08 A1 Grand Prix season was the third in the relatively short history of the championship.- Teams :All teams used same A1 Grand Prix car including chassis , engine and tyre...
. Cooper Tire became the official tire of the Champ Car Atlantic Championship
Champ Car Atlantic Championship
The Cooper Tires presents the Atlantic Championship Powered by Mazda was a formula race car series with races throughout North America. It is often colloquially referred to as the Atlantic Championship, Champ Car Atlantics , Toyota Atlantics , or just Atlantics or Formula...
in 2007
2007 Champ Car Atlantic season
The 2007 Champ Car Atlantic Season was the thirty-third Champ Car Atlantic season, its sixth season as the prime feeder series for the Champ Car World Series. It began on April 8, 2007 and ended on August 12 after 12 races...
. Cooper Tire became the official tire of USF2000 National Championship and the IMSA Prototype Lites
IMSA Prototype Lites
Cooper Tires Prototype Lites is a 14 race series featuring two classes of single-seat prototype cars racing simultaneously. The series is sanctioned by the International Motor Sports Association . Most races are held in support of the American Le Mans Series...
series (formerly IMSA Lites) in 2010. On April 17, 2010 Cooper/Avon Tyres presented a written proposal to Formula One Team Association (FOTA) to be the official tire supplier for the 2011 Formula One season.
Drifting involvement
Cooper is heavily involved in the sport of driftingDrifting (motorsport)
Drifting refers to a driving technique and to a motorsport where the driver intentionally over steers, causing loss of traction in the rear wheels through turns, while maintaining vehicle control and a high exit speed...
by supplying tires to several drifters in both the Need for Speed Formula D
Formula D
Formula DRIFT or Formula D is the premier United States drifting series. Formula Drift, Inc. was co-founded by Jim Liaw and Ryan Sage in 2003 as a sister company to Slipstream Global Marketing, the same partnership that brought D1 Grand Prix to the United States. The new entity would solely own,...
Drift series and Canadian Drift series.